Dear Editor
In 2019, Action for Children launched a landmark report which explored childhood across three generations. Now, two years on from the first national lockdown, we have revisited this research to understand the worries children face growing up in the shadow of the pandemic amid a growing cost of living crisis.
As children grapple with how they fit into our increasingly complex world – navigating big issues including financial worries, climate change and the pandemic – our research shows that most London parents (58%) and grandparents (56%) fear childhood is getting worse and almost 4 in 10 children agree (39%).
Many children, particularly those from low-income families, worry about their family’s finances. As the UK is set to face the biggest income squeeze in nearly fifty years1, these worries look set to get worse.
Meanwhile, mental health is now a much bigger worry for the region’s children with less than a third (32%) of children seeing their own mental health as an issue in 2019, compared to 41% in 2022.
We believe there’s a star in every child. When a child is safe and happy, their star shines brightly. However, poverty, abuse and neglect, and poor mental health are robbing too many children of the bright futures they deserve.
We’re asking your readers to help us break down the barriers that stop children shining – before it’s too late. Visit actionforchildren.org.uk/star to find out how you can help.
Imran Hussain, director of policy and campaigns, Action for Children
